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s r e g n a str s d n to fr ie The Inspiring Journey of the Twin Mills Travel Club BY JAC KIE H OBSON H ESS W I T H T R I LO GY ® L A KE N OR M A N M EM BER S A LA N A N D ELA IN E M OR GEN ST ER N
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Traveling can transform strangers into lifelong friends, especially when those shared experiences are curated by travel experts Alan and Elaine Morgenstern, the founders of the Travel Club at Trilogy® Lake Norman. Alan and Elaine, who have spent over 50 years managing a consulting business, are no strangers to exploration. They've traveled to over 115 countries, savoring the joys, thrills, and unforgettable moments the world has to offer. And they have the stories to prove it. Their adventures span across all seven continents, from dining at the Blue Hall of the City Hall in Stockholm (the venue for the Nobel Prize banquet), tasting what Elaine calls the world’s best cookie in Amsterdam (a favorite of hers from her pastry chef days), and enjoying a private cocktail reception (complete with glacier ice) hosted by a cruise captain in Antarctica to mark their visit to their seventh continent. They've even flown on a helicopter to the top of Mount Everest. But it was during a trip to Africa that the idea for the Twin Mills Travel Club was born. Alan had just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, only to catch Covid-19, which changed their travel plans. Instead of continuing on to Kenya, they were sent back to Arusha, where they were treated like royalty for eight days as Alan recovered. It was there, during this unexpected time of rest, that Elaine turned to Alan and said, “Let’s start a travel club!” The idea was simple but powerful: Elaine envisioned a space where Trilogy® community Members could come together, share their travel stories, and inspire one another to explore the world. Adding to the charm, Elaine would bake her special cookies to welcome new friends. When their first Travel Club meeting came, Alan and Elaine were nervous. Just 15 minutes before the scheduled start, the room was empty. But once the clock ticked past the start time, the room quickly filled with 52 of their eager neighbors, and the Travel Club was officially off and running.
MY TRILOGY LIFE
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